Log-debarking apparatus



Sept. 1, 1959 J. T. LATIMER LOG-DEBARKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27. 1956 INVENTOR. James T LJf/her BY a Afforneys Sept. 1, 1959 J. T. LATIMER LOG-DEBARKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27. 1956 INVENTOR. James T Laf/mer A fforngzg United States Patent LOG-DEBARKIN G APPARATUS James T. Lah'mer, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Jackson Industries, Iuc., a corporation of Alabama This invention relates to log-'debarking apparatus and has for an object the provision of such apparatus which shall be particularly adapted for use with logs having irregular surfaces.

Another object of my invention is to provide logdebarking apparatus which is adapted for movement along the log being debarked in accordance with the removal of the bark therefrom, thereby eliminating the unnecessary application of the debarker to any surface of the log.

Another object of my invention is to provide log-debarking apparatus of the character designated which is adapted for use with logs of different diameters and lengths without having to adjust the apparatus for accommodating the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide logdebarking apparatus of the character designated in which the debarking operation can commence at any desired location along the log, without the necessity of having to commence with a particular end of the log.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple of construction and operation and which is controlled by an operator who is in full view of the debarking operation, thus assuring that the debarker removes all of the bark from the log being debarked.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, the operating handle being removed for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken generally along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental side elevation showing the debarker-head support;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a horizontal base frame 10 which may comprise elongated I beams 11 and 12 connected by a plurality of transverse I beams 13. Mounted on the transverse I beams 13 are suitable bearing brackets 14 for supporting elongated shafts 16 and 17 in spaced relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on the shafts 16 and 17 are toothed rollers 18 and 19, respectively, which are adapted to support a log 21 to be debarked, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Mounted on the shafts 16 and 17 adjacent one end of the base frame 10 are sprocket wheels 22 and 23, respectively, which are operatively connected to each other by a sprocket chain 24. The shaft 17 is connected to a suitable source of power, such as a motor 26 by means 2,902,070 Patented Sept. 1, 1959 of a reduction-gear box 27 and a belt-and-pulley arrangement indicated generally at 28.

Mounted at one side of the base frame 10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is a vertical frame, indicated generally at 29, which comprises laterally spaced, vertical I beams 31 and 32 at one end thereof and laterally spaced, vertical I beams 33 and 34 at the other end thereof. Connecting the upper ends of the I beams 31 and 33 is an elongated I beam 36. In like manner, connecting the vertical I beams 32 and 34 is an elongated I beam 37. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the I beams 36 and 37 extend in horizontal planes substantially parallel to the longtitudinal axis of the shafts 16 and 17 and the log 21 being debarked.

Mounted on the beams 36 and 37 are elongated guide rails 38 and 39, respectively. Adapted for longitudinal movement along the guide rails 38 and 39 is a movable supporting frame, indicated generally at 41. The movable frame 41 is supported by suitable flanged rollers 42 which engage the guide rails 38 and 39, as shown in Fig. 3. Depending from the movable frame 41 are vertical support members 43 and 44 which are connected by a vertical plate 46. The lower ends of the vertical support members 43 and 44 are provided with suitable bearings for supporting a jackshaft 47 therebetween, as shown in Fig. 5.

Pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the jackshaft 47 are arm members 48 and 49 of a debarkerhead support, generally indicated at 51. As shown in Fig. 3, one end of the debarker-head support 51 extends over the log 21 and the supporting means therefor. Mounted for rotation in bearings 52 and 53 adjacent the ends of the arms 48 and 49 which project over the log-supporting-and-rotating means is a shaft 54 which carries a suitable debarker head 56. Sprockets 57 and 58 are mounted on the shafts 47 and 54, respectively, and are connected by a suitable drive chain 59. Mounted on the shaft 47 outwardly of the vertical support member 43 are pulleys 61 which are operatively connected to a suitable source of power, such as a motor 62, by belts 63 which pass over drive pulleys 64 of the motor 62.

Mounted adjacent the end of the debarker-head sup- 7 port 51 opposite the debarker head 56 is a receptacle 66 for receiving counterweights 65, whereby the weight of the debarker head 56 is at least partially counterbalanced. A suitable handle 67 is secured to the ends of the arm members 48 and 49 adjacent the debarker head 56 and projects outwardly of the apparatus in position to be raised and lowered by an operator whereby the debarker head may be raised or lowered relative to the log 21 being debarked.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved log-debarking apparatus will be readily understood. The log 21 is positioned on the toothed rollers 18 and 19 and is rotated in the direction of the arrows by means of the motor 26. The motor 62 is energized whereby the debarker head 56 is rotated through the sprocket chain 59 and the belts 63 as described heretofore. The counterweights 65 partially counterbalance the weight of the debarker head 56 whereby the debarker-head support 51 may be easily moved about the shaft 47. The debarker head 56 is lowered onto the log 21 and is moved longitudinally of the log by moving the handle 67 in the desired direction. The rollers 42 carry the movable supporting frame 41 along the guide rails 38 and 39 as the debarker head is moved along the log, thereby permitting smooth operation of the ap paratus.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved log-debarking apparatus which is simple of construction and operation and which may be moved along the log being debarked as the bark is removed,

thus assuringtthat the debarker head engages all depressions or irregular areas in the log, such as the areas around knots and the like. Also, in view of the fact that the operator moves the debarker head along the log in accordance with the removal of the bark, there is no unnecessary application of the debarker head to the areas of the log from which the bark is easily removed. Furthermore, the area being debarked is in full view of the operator, thereby further aiding in effitending frame members, a pair of horizontally extend- 20 ing frame members mounted on the upper ends of said vertical frame members, guide rails mounted on the upper ends of said horizontal frame members, a movable supporting frame having rollers thereon adapted to engage said guide rails whereby said supporting frame is adapted for free movement along said rails, a pair of spaced vertical support plates secured to said movable frame and extending downwardly therefrom, a jacksshaft mounted between said plates at the lower end thereof, power means mounted on said supporting frame and operatively connected to said jackshaft for driving same, a pair of laterally spaced arms mounted intermediate their ends on opposite ends of said jackshaft, a driven shaft mounted for rotation between the ends of said arms at one side of said jackshaft, means connecting said jackshaft and driven shaft in driving relation to each other, a debarker head mounted on said driven shaft and adapted to engage a log supported by the debarking apparatus, and means adjacent the ends of said arms opposite said debarker head for counterbalancing at least a part of the weight of said debarker head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

